World under 20 800m bronze medalist Noah Kibet got Kenya's campaign at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade to a great start when he won heat 1 of the men's 800m.
The 18-year-old produced an awesome kick in the last lap to cross the finish line in 1:48.31, ahead of United States' Bryce Hoppel (1:48.77) and Great Britain's Guy Learmonth (1:49.13).
Kibet had started off sluggishly, lagging at the tail-end of the six-athlete pack before he sprang a surprise on his more experienced rivals for his first win on his indoor debut.
It was, however, an afternoon to forget for Collins Kipruto who withered in heat four of the two-lap race, finishing fourth in 1:48.18. The former world indoor tour champion had began on a bright note, taking the lead in the first lap before United States' Isaiah Harris sprinted into first place.
The American finished first in 1:47.00 as Spaniard Alvaro de Arriba (1:47.97) and Dutchman Samuel Chapple (1:48.09) finished second and third.
